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Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
In a bid to end homelessness in the United States, Donald Trump has signed an executive order to have people who live on the streets housed in 'centres'.
In documentation signed on Thursday (24 July), the Republican leader called upon both state and city representatives across America to end what he described as 'endemic vagrancy'.
To do so, Trump pledged the idea of housing homeless individuals - including those reliant on drugs and alcohol, and suffering from poor mental health - in 'treatment centres'.
According to The Post, the legislation will order funeral agencies to provide funding to shift 'homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings' for 'humane treatment' through the 'appropriate use of civil commitment'.
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A heartbreaking 274,000 people were recorded sleeping on the streets on a single night last year.
Trump's new order reads of this figure: "The overwhelming majority of these individuals are addicted to drugs, have a mental health disorder, or both.
"The Federal Government and the States have spent tens of billions of dollars on failed programs that address homelessness but not its root causes, leaving other citizens vulnerable to public safety threats."
The right-wing leader's latest executive order doesn't mark the first time that Trump has complained about homelessness in the States - specifically with regards to Washington D.C., where his presidential residence is located.
Throughout his first term in office, between 2017-2021, he frequently suggested the reopening of insane asylums, which he hoped might be used to house dangerous individuals on the streets.
His new executive order doesn't refer to asylums specifically, and fails to clarify whether he aims would work in parallel with long shut-down institutions as a public safety strategy.
The documentation does identify 'assisted outpatient treatment', however, as well as 'institutional treatment'.
One element missing from Trump's new proposal, however, is how much funding it would take to be placed into action.
The order says that States and municipalities that have already put forward initiatives centred on tackling illicit drug use, urban camping, loitering/squatting and tracking sex offenders will receive priority grants.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt outlined in a statement after the order was announced: "President Trump is delivering on his commitment to Make America Safe Again and end homelessness across America.
"By removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance abuse programs, the Trump Administration will ensure that Americans feel safe in their own communities and that individuals suffering from addiction or mental health struggles are able to get the help they need."